Book Review #38: Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Kvothe’s story is told with many painful and mesmerising memories, of his beautiful family who are amongst a well respected travelling troupe of performers. Storytelling, singing, juggling and acting, they make an honest living whilst travelling through each village/town until disaster strikes leaving Kvothe to lead his days not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

We follow Kvothe and watch him grow as he experiences everything from life threatening attacks, to thievery before he make a life changing decision to enter the “university” with nothing but a new set of clothes.

With aspirations of becoming anything better than what he has been so far. We watch Kvothe get bullied by a fellow student Ambrose (who happens to be a member of a royal family), but he fights back. His life is a constant struggle as he defies rules and fights to unintentionally become a someone in society.

With an amazing sense of quickly learning anything he sets his thoughts on, Kvothe accomplishes many things and even learns to use magic.

I enjoyed reading most of this book. Considering it’s a book on magic, it is extremely toned down and supposedly believable an realistic to the real world we live in. I love how magic can kill you if you don’t know how to control it properly. I love how we run through the streets of Tarbean with orphaned Kvothe. With tears stinging my eyes as he gets beaten for begging in the wrong side of town and when he loses his only possession to remind him of his family. A simple book in regards to magic. But somehow it was a really good read. I most enjoyed the time he spent in the university grounds as he battles with difficult tutors and Ambrose. Then a special someone appears in his life yet he doesn’t know how to win her heart.

I’m very much looking forward to reading book 2. I would also definitely recommend this book to magic lovers.